Apparatus to prevent fouling of wire



Sept 24, 1963 G. c. TERREL ETAL 3,104,714

APPARATUS To PREVENT FouLING oF WIRE LINES.; l

WHEN USING PUMPDOWN TOOLS Filed DSC. 19, 196C,

. GARLAND c. TERREL, SAMUEL E. Lov,m, A BY ATTORNEY.

tts

This invention relates to the pumping of well tools through a ow line for fluids, with the tools connected to a cable or wire line, and more particularly to the manipulation of wire line tools in wells having horizontal ow lines connected both to the vertical casing and to the vertical flow tubing of a cased and tubed well at a remote location.

in connection with the production of oi-l and Igas wells at oifshore locations, special techniques have been required -to minimize costs and to increase operational safety. One -technique that has been developed utilizes substantially horizontal fiow lines connected both to the tubing and to the casing of a tubed and cased well having an underwater wellhead. When it is necessary to send well tools down the well, the too-ls are pumped on the end of a wire line from an onshore location into the horizontal flow lines and down the vertically disposed tubing string. The tool may be retracted from the well by reversing the pressure diiferential across the tool. inasmuch as there is considerable friction between the -wire line and the sides of the flow line and tubing string, it is very difficult for an operator to have any feel with regard to the stress in the wire line at the tool. For this reason it is rather easy for the tool to overrun the 'wire line ywhen the tool is being retracted from the Iwell. The present invention is particularly directed to apparatus for the purpose of preventing a well tool from overrrunning a wire line.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the Well tool is connected to the wire line through a connecting means including a housing and a plurality of slips extending outwardly from the housing. The

slips are adapted to engage the inner walls of the flow line or tubing through which 4the well tool is to pass. Included within the housing is means for detecting the tension in the wire line at the housing and for forcing the slips into engagement -with the inner wall of the ow tubing when the tension in the wire line falls to predetermined limits. ln a preferred embodiment of the invention, the slips entend outwardly from a chamber in the housing, and sealing means ane connected to the exterior of the housing so as to be in sealing engagement between the housing and the inner wall of the flow tubing. The detecting means preferably connects the upper portion of the fiow tubing to the chamber when the tension i-s greater than a predetermined tension, and hydraulically interconnects the down-the-well portion of the flow tubing to the chamber when the tension in the wire line is less .than the given tension. Thus, hydraulic pressure is transmitted into the chamber to force the slips outwardly from the chamber and into engagement with the inner wall of the ilow tubing.

Objects and features of the invention which are not apparent from the above discussion will become evident upon consideration of the following description thereof when taken :in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic showing of a well drilled at an underwater location illustrating the use of a preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional representations of r'ice a preferred embodiment of the invention in the twooperative positions thereof.

With reference now to FIG. l, numeral 2 designates a well drilled from the water bottom 1 of a body of Water 4 located at a substantial distance from the shoreline 28. Arranged in the well bore 2 is a casing string 5 which is cemented in place in the well bore. The casing string 5 may entend substantially to the bottom of the Iwell bore. Arranged in the casing 5 and coexteuding therewith from the earths surface is a tubing string 11 having its lower open end disposed at a level abo've a hydrocarbon productive zone.

The tubing string 11 and the casing string 5 are suspended from a welihead '3 at the water bottom 1. A horizontal tiow line or pipe string 17 is connected to the wellhead 3 so as to be in uid communication with the vertically disposed flow line or tubing string 11. Similarly, a second tlow line 15 is connected to the wellhead so as to be in fluid communication with the annulus between the casing string 5 and the tubing string 11. Plow line 17 has a small-radius bend at the wellhead end thereof which may be of any desired degree. Both flow line 15 and flow line y17 extend substantially horizontally to a remote location which may be on dry land at the shore 28. The ow line 17 is provided with a lubricator 27 and a blowout preventer 35. Lubricator 27 is provided with a valve 26. Connected to the lubricator 27 by a laterally extending Iconduit 30 is a pump 31 which connects to a uid source, not shown. Flow line 15 also is provided with a pump 29 which also is connected to the uid source. The fluid source may be mud, oil, fresh or salt water, or may be a suitable well treating agent known to the ant.

Shown in FIG. l is a well tool 23 which is illustrated as being a tubular extension member but which may be a logging sonde, a perforating gun, or other tool. The tool 23 is connected to the remote operating location by an elongated wire line 13 and a connecting device 19 which will be described in detail with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3. The line 13 may be a Alogging cable or a stranded or piano wire line, as desired, and may have one lor more electrical conductors associated therewith in accordance with the type of tool tobe run into the well. The wire line is wound or spooled on a reel or drum 37 having associated therewith apparatus for measuring the length of line payed into and retracted from the lubricator. Suitable apparatus for this purpose is described in the Composite Catalog of Oil Field Equipment and Services, 1958-59 edition, pages 2272 and 2273.

With reference now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the connecting .apparatus 19 mentioned above is shown in position in the tubing string 11. The connecting apparatus comprises a housing 24 having a packing or sealing means 21 aixed thereto n'ear the lower end thereof. The packing or sealing means 21 may be of rubber or rubber-like material and is 'adapted to be in sealing engagement with the inner wall of the pipe string 11 through which the tool 23 is to pass. The tool 23 is preferably screw-threadedly aixed to the housing 24 at the lower end thereof.

A chamber 6G 1is provided in the housing 24, preferably near the upper end thereof. A` plurality of slips 59 extend through the walls of the housing 24 out of the chamber 69. A plurality of spring means 53- individually aflxed to the slips 59 bias the slips into the chamber 60, as shown in FIG. 2, `and hold the slips in place therein. Associated with each of the slips 59 is yan O-ring 54 for providing a fluid seal between the slips 59l and the housing 24.

An elongated rod 43 is connected to wire line 13` and extends into the housing 24. In eifect, rod 43 and housing 24 comprise rst and second members in telescoping .scoping position relative to housing 2li.

63 on the rod 43 and the upper end of the housing 24. f

'Ilhe spring is adapted to lbias `the rod into its most tele- The rod d3 extends through a port 45' in the upper end of housing 24, through chamber 60, and into a passageway 'tl in the housing. A passageway 73 provides iluid relief between passageway '7l} and the exterior of the housing above packer element 2l. G-*ings 49, 67, and e9 provide sealing engagement between the housing 24 and the rod 43 to hydraulically isolate chamber Gli. The rod 43 is drilled and ported as shown so as to have a passageway 65 extending between ports 5l and 71. Port 7l is located so as to be aligned with passageway 75 when rod t3 is in its most telescoped position. Port 5l is positioned so as to be below O-ring 49 and in uid communication with chamber 60 and when the rod 43 is in its most telescoped position illustrated in FIG. 3, and so as to be above O-rin-g 49 yand in fluid communication with the exterior of the housing when r-od 43 is in a iless telescoped position, as is illustrated in FIG. 2.

Let it lbe assumed that the tool has been run into the well .and that it is desired to retract it from the well. Fluid press-ure is applied to the annulus between the casing 5 and the tubing il. As long as the tension in the wire line is -greater than a predetermined tension, the components of the apparatus will be Ias shown in FIG. 2. The interior of the chamber 6d will be at the same pressure as the exterior of the housing above the packer element 2l, and the slips 5% will be fully retracted into the position shown in FIG. 2. However, when the tension in wire line 13 falls to va predetermined tension'so that there is danger of the tool overrunning` the wire line i3, spring `6l will push rod 43 into the position shown in FIG. 3. The chamber 60 will now ibe in iluid communication with the down-the-hole portion of the tubing below packer 2l in view of the fact that port 7l .and port S1 transmit fluid pressure from passageway 75 through passageway 65 into the chamber di?. Slips 59 will be biased outwardly into engagement with the inner wall of tubing 11, and the frictional opposition provided thereby will substantially slow the movement of the housing 24. When the tension in the line 13 increases to a safe value, the components of the apparatus will resume the position shown in FIG. 2 land the slipswill be pulled out of engagement with the inner wall of the tubing 11.

The invention 'is not to be restricted to the specilic Vstructural details or arrangement of parts herein set forth,

as various modilications thereof may be effected without departing from the spirit 'and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is: 1. For use in -a well installation wherein `a well tool is pumped through a ow tubing `at the end of 'a wire line Vfor running into and retrieval from an operating location -in a well, the combination comprising:

ia housing adapted to be connected to the well tool,

said housing having a chamber therein;

annular sealing means connected to said housing for sealing between the housing and the inner wall 4of the flow tubing;

lan elongated rod telescopingly extending into said housing through said chamber and adapted to be connected to the wire line;

means in said housing for limiting the telescopic movement of said rod into said housing;

means including spring means in said chamber for biasingtsaid rod into said housing against the force exerted thereon by the Wire line;

means including fluid passageways in said rod and in said housing, adapted to hydraulically interconnect the downhole portion of the ilow tubing to said chamber when said rod is at -a most extended po-sition in said housing, `and to hydraulically interconlneot the uphole portion of the flow tubing and said chamber when said rod extends out of said chamber -by a predetermined distance;

slips means extending out of said chamber through the walls of said housing so as to engage the inner walls of the flow tubing to oppose movement of said housing through the ilow tubing; and

spring means connected to said slips means biasing said slips means into said chamber so that =a predetermined hydraulic pressure is required in said chamber relative to the pressure uphole of said sealing means to force said slips means into engagement with the walls of the ow tubing.

2. For aise in a well 'mstallation wherein Ia well tool is Apumped through a ow tubing =at the end of a wire line for running into and retrieval from an operating location in a well, the combination comprising:

Aa housing adapted to be connected to the well tool,

said housing having a chamber thereWithin; annular sealing means connected to said housing for sealing between the housing and the inner wall of the flow tubing; an elongated rod telescopingly extending into said housing through said chamber and adapted to be connected to the wire line; means in said housing for limiting the telescopic move- 4ment of said rod into said housing;

means including spring means in said chamber for biasing said rod into said chamber against the force exerted thereon by the wire line;

means including fluid passageways in said rod and in said housing, adapted to hydraulically interconnect the downhole portion of the flow tubing to said chamber when said rod is at a most extended posi-V tion in said housing, and -to hydraulically interconnect the luphole portion of the flow tubing and said chamber fwhen said rod extends out of said chamber by a predetermined distance; and

means, including slips means extending out of said` chamber through the walls of the housing, adapted to engage the inner wall of the llo-w tubing responsive to :a predetermined hydraulic pressure in said chamber so as to oppose movement of said housing through the ow tubing.

3. For use in a well installation wherein a well tool is pumped through a flow tubing at the end of a wire V line for running into and retrieval from an operating location in a well, the combination comprising:

iirst outer and second innerinterconnected telescoping members respectively adapted to be connected to the tool .and to the wire line, said telescopin'g members being constructed and arranged -for relative movement between -a most telescoped position and a least telescoped posit-ion, said first telescoping member including a chamber through which said second member extends; passageway means in said telesooping members adapted to hydraulically interconnect said chamber and the Vdownhole portion of the ow tubing when said telescoping lmembers are in the most telescoped position thereof, and to interconnect said chamber and the upper portion of 'the flow tubing when said telescoping members are in a lesser -telescoped position thereof; 'annular sealing means on said irst telescoping member adapted to sealingly engage the inner wall of the flow tubing; and

means extending from said chamber through said first.

pumped through a lioW tubing at the end of a wire l-ine for running into and retrieval from an operating location in a well, the combination comprising:

a housing adapted to be `connected to the well tool, said 6 annular sealing means connected to said housing for sealing between the housing and the inner Wall of the i'iow tubing; an elongated nod telesoopinigly extending into said housing having achamber therewithin; housing through said chamber and adapted to be .annular sealing means connected to said housing :for connected to the Wire line;

sealing between the housing and the inner Wall of the means in said housing for limting the telescopic moveflow tubing; ment of lsaid rod into said housing; an `elongated rod telescopingly extending into said spring means in said chamber connected to said rod for housing through sai-d chamber and adapted to be 10 biasing said rod into said housing against the force connected to the IWire line; exerted thereon by the Wire line; means in said housing for limiting the telescopic movemeans including llilid PHSSagSWaS/S in Said IOd `finti in -ment of said rod into said housing; said housing, adapted to hydraulically interconnect spring means in said chamber connected to said rod th@ dUWnilOle Portion 0f the ilOW tubing t0 Said for biasing szud rod into said housing lagainst the @hambl When Said i'Od iS at a niOSt eXtendeCi POS* force exerted .thereon by the wire line; tion in said housing, and to hydraulically interconrneans including fluid passageways in said rod and in nCt tn@ uphole Portion 0f the ilOW tubing and Said Said housing, adapted ,to hydraulically intefconnlct chamber when said rod extends out of said chamber the downhole portion of the ilow tubing to said byapietleteffnined distance; @amber when Said md is `t a most extended posi- 20 slips means extending out of said chamber through the tion in said housing, and to hydraulically intercoii- Walls Ot Said hilsing S0 aS t0 engage the inner Walls nect the uphole portion of the flow tubing land said 0f the llOW tubing t0 '01313056 InOVenlent 0f Salti hOUS chamber when said rod extends out of said chamber ingthfotlgll tile il0W tublng by `a predetermined distance; annular sealing ineans lbetween said slips means and slips means extending out of said chamber through the the Walls 0f Said llOtiSingS and Walls of said housing so as lto engage the inner Walfls Sprltig means @O nnectel t0 Said Slips means biasing Sald of the 110W fmbing to Oppose movement of Said slips means intro said chamber so that a predeterhousing thmugh the HOW tubing; and mined hydraulic pressure is required in said chamspring means connected to said slips means biasing said bei felatlVG t0 the'pressule uphole of said sealing slips means Vinto said chamber so that `a predeter- 30 mfifms to force Sald Slips f neans Into engagement mined hydraulic pressure is required in said chamber Wim the Walls Of the OW mbmg' relative to the p ressure uphole of said sealingmeaiis References ed in the me of this patent to force said slips means into engagement with the Walls of @le flow tubing UNITED STATES PATENTS 5. For use in a weii insiaiiaiion wherein a weil i001 2,805,718 Tausch epi. io, 1957 is pumped through a flow tubing at the end of a wire 2,810,440 Kennedlay etal Oct. 22, 1957 line for running into and retrieval from fari operation lo- 2,897,898 Wynn Aug, 4, 1959 cation in a well, the combination comprising: 2,915,011 Hamill Dec. 1, 1959 a housing adapted to be connected to the well tool, 2,982,125 Gilreath May 2, 1961 said housing having a chamber therewithin; 40 2,990,883 Lewis July 4, 1961 

3. FOR USE IN A WELL INSTALLATION WHEREIN A WELL TOOL IS PUMPED THROUGH A FLOW TUBING AT THE END OF A WIRE LINE FOR RUNNING INTO AND RETRIEVAL FROM AN OPERATING LOCATION IN A WELL, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: FIRST OUTER AND SECOND INNER INTERCONNECTED TELESCOPING MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO THE TOOL AND TO THE WIRE LINE, SAID TELESCOPING MEMBERS BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN A MOST TELESCOPED POSITION AND A LEAST TELESCOPED POSITION, SAID FIRST TELESCOPING MEMBER INCLUDING A CHAMBER THROUGH WHICH SAID SECOND MEMBER EXTENDS; PASSAGEWAY MEANS IN SAID TELESCOPING MEMBERS ADAPTED TO HYDRAULICALLY INTERCONNECT SAID CHAMBER AND THE DOWNHOLE PORTION OF THE FLOW TUBING WHEN SAID TELESCOPING MEMBERS ARE IN THE MOST TELESCOPED POSITION THEREOF, AND TO INTERCONNECT SAID CHAMBER AND THE UPPER PORTION OF THE FLOW TUBING WHEN SAID TELESCOPING MEMBERS ARE IN A LESSER TELESCOPED POSITION THEREOF; ANNULAR SEALING MEANS ON SAID FIRST TELESCOPING MEMBER ADAPTED TO SEALINGLY ENGAGE THE INNER WALL OF THE FLOW TUBING; AND MEANS EXTENDING FROM SAID CHAMBER THROUGH SAID FIRST TELESCOPING MEMBER ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE WALLS OF THE FLOW TUBING TO OPPOSE MOVEMENT OF SAID TELESCOPING MEMBERS THERETHROUGH WHEN THE PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN THE CHAMBER AND THE EXTERIOR OF SAID FIRST TELESCOPING MEMBER ON THE UPHOLE SIDE OF SAID SEALING MEANS EXCEEDS A PREDETERMINED PRESSURE. 